Coleus plant named ‘Sundancer6’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coleus  plant named ‘Sundancer6’, characterized by its large, upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; yellow green-colored lateral branches and leaf petioles; elliptic to rhomboidal-shaped leaves with irregular lobation; and purple-colored leaves with dark purple to warmish brown-colored margins.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar Sundancer6.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant, botanically known as Solenostemon scutellarioides, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sundancer6’.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Waynesville, N.C. as a chemically-induced mutation of the Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar Grace Ann, not patented. Plants of the cultivar Grace Ann were treated with colchicine to induce mutations. The new Coleus was observed within a population of chemically-treated plants of the parent cultivar in October, 2001. This seedling was selected on the basis of its unique leaf coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Waynesville, N.C., has shown that the unique features of this new Coleus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sundancer6 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sundancer6’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sundancer6’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Yellow green-colored lateral branches and leaf petioles.     -   4. Elliptic to rhomboidal-shaped leaves with irregular lobation.     -   5. Purple-colored leaves with dark purple to warmish         brown-colored margins.

Plants of the new Coleus are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Grace Ann. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Waynesville, N.C., plants of the new Coleus differed from plants of the cultivar Grace Ann in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Coleus were larger than plants of the         cultivar Grace Ann.     -   2. Plants of the new Coleus had narrower leaves than plants of         the cultivar Grace Ann.     -   3. Plants of the new Coleus and the cultivar Grace Ann differed         in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Grace Ann had         violet pink and green bi-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Coleus.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plant of ‘Sundancer6’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Sundancer6’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Sundancer6 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and spring in Encinitas, Calif., in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions which approximate commercial production cultural and environmental conditions. Plants were about 12 weeks from rooted cuttings and were grown three plants per one-gallon containers. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 19° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 5,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar     Sundancer6. -   Parentage: Chemically-induced mutation of the Solenostemon     scutellarioides cultivar Grace Ann, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 days at 20° C.             Winter: About 9 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 18 days at 20° C.             Winter: About 20 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Large, upright and mounded plant habit. Vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 42 cm.         -   Plant diameter, single plant.—About 25 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about four to five             lateral branches per plant.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 34 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 4.5 to 5 cm. Shape, in             cross-section: Squarish. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color:             145C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Length:             About 13 cm. Width: About 6.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic to             rhomboidal. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Irregularly lobed. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Slightly pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate.             Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Center, 53B;             towards margins, 183A to 183B. Young foliage, lower surface:             185B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Center, 53B to             185C; towards margins, warmer brown than but closest to 200B             to 200C. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 184B.             Venation, upper surface: 185C. Venation, lower surface:             145D. Petiole length: About 5 cm. Petiole diameter: About             2.5 mm. Petiole color: 144B. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Coleus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Coleus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from 4 to 32° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘Sundancer6’, as illustrated and described. 